Designing Radiology for Patients, Communities, & the Planet

Reed A. Omary, MD, MS, is the Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, TN.

With more than 20 years of experience as a practicing interventional radiologist, scientist and educator, Dr. Omary has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and has presented more than 100 invited lectures at top institutions and international meetings. He has received more than $7 million in grant funding, which includes two R01 grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research related to image-guided therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. From 2011 to 2017, Dr. Omary was a full member, and the only interventional radiologist, on the NIH Medical Imaging Study Section. He has chaired NIH Special Emphasis Panels on Bioengineering Research Partnerships in imaging. He currently serves as president of the Association of University Radiologists and as president-elect of the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments. In January 2019, he joined the editorial board of the Journal of the American College of Radiology as an associate editor.

Dr. Omary is deeply committed to the training and mentorship of medical students, residents and fellows. He has trained 110 clinical interventional radiology fellows and his research trainees have received more than 60 awards.

In addition to his radiology leadership at VUMC, Dr. Omary is chair of the board for the Vanderbilt Medical Group and co-leads the Medical Center’s strategic planning efforts. He founded and directs Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Medical Innovators Development Program. He is an avid public speaker who promotes innovation in health care within multiple national radiology organizations and for the public via his podcast, “Innovation Activists: Designing Health Care’s Future.” He is a graduate of Leadership Nashville, a highly selective executive from industries across Metro Nashville to share insights and learn effective leadership techniques.

Prior to joining VUMC in 2012, Dr. Omary was a professor of radiology and vice chair of research at Northwestern University Medical School. During that time, he also served as chief of interventional radiology services at the Jesse Brown VA Hospital, both in Chicago.

Dr. Omary earned his BS and MD degrees from Northwestern University’s six-year Honors Program in Medical Education. He completed his residency in diagnostic radiology and a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Virginia before returning to Northwestern for his fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology.

In his plenary lecture, Dr. Omary will discuss the responsibility of today’s radiology professionals to create the best possible experiences for patients, communities and beyond.

“Regardless of what 2030 brings, if we link the practices of design for our patients, communities and the planet, we will multiply our impact,” Dr. Omary says.